Turnbuckle wrench



Nov. 17, 1953 G. THOMPSON TURNBUCKLE WRENCH Filed Jan. 15, 1951 INVENTOR6A RR/E THOMPSON A T TORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,659,257 TURNBUCKLE WRENCH Garrie Thompson, Berkeley, Calif.Application January 15, 1951, Serial No. 206,054

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a turnbuckle wrench.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a turnbuckle wrenchwhich can be easily inserted over a turnbuckle selectively for turningthe turnbuckle in either direction with easy back and forth motion, andwhich has pawls so held as to be pushed out of the way by the turnbucklewhen the relative turning movement is in the direction in which theturnbuckle is inserted, and which firmly grip the turnbuckle at itscorners when the relative turning movement is in the opposite direction.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements andcombinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the detailsof the construction thereof without departing from the scope of thepresent invention as set forth in the following specification, and asdefined in the following claim; hence I do not limit my invention to theexact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts asdescribed in the said specification nor do I confine myself to the exactdetails of the construction of said parts as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifestin the following detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my Wrench applied to a turnbuckle.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the head of my wrench, partly broken away, aturnbuckle being shown in section therein.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the head of my wrench as it is turnedrelatively to the turnbuckle for taking another grip.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional fragmental view of a modified form of the pawl andabutment in the head of my wrench.

In the illustrative embodiment of my wrench I make use of a handle Iwhich has a generally circular ring-like head 2. A segment of saidring-like head 2 is open to provide a gap 3 suitable for the passage ofa turnbuckle 4 therethrough.

A plurality of pawls 6 are pivoted in the ringlike head 2. There are inthis illustration four pawls 6 spaced from one another circumferentiallyaround the head 2 so that the inner points I of the pawls 6 are indiametrically opposite pairs on diameters generally at right angles to Ilead the respective adjacent abutment II, the

I 2 one another and generally at forty five degrees to the diameterextended through the center of the ring gap 3.

Each pawl 6 is turnable in a socket or space 8 within the head 2, whichsocket is open inwardly of the head 2. A pivot 9 extends through eachpawl 6 and is secured in the head 2 so as to form a pawl fulcrum on anaxis generally at right angles to the plane of the ring-like head 2.

An abutment or back stop H is fixed in each socket 8 adjacent an edgeofeach jaw. A suitable spring, such as the coil spring I 2 is anchoredat one end thereof within the head 2 on a pin I3 and at its other end onthe outer end of the pawl 6. The coil spring l2 extends from the outerend of the pawl Ii to said anchor pin l3 oppositely to the respectiveback stop H so as to turn the pawl 6 about its pivot 9 against said backstop II.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5 the pawl points are shapeddifferently from the first described form, and the back stops are in theform of fixed blocks I6.

It is to be noted that for convenience the spring l2 at the last pawl 6in clockwise direction viewing Fig. 2, is connected to the pawl 6inwardly of the pivot 9 and extends to an anchor on the same side as theadjacent abutment H to pull the pawl 6 against said abutment II.

The wrench is applied to the turnbuckle 4 by inserting the gap 3 of thehead 2 over the turnbuckle 4 and turning the wrench head 2 incontraclockwise direction viewing Fig. 3. In other words the wrench head2 is turned around the turnbuckle so that the respective abutments l Ilead the adjacent pawl 6, and the pawls are successively pushed by theturnbuckle 4 out of the Way of the respective corners of the turnbucklewithout turning the latter. When the wrench is turned in clockwisedirection viewing Fig. 2, or in the direction where the respective pawls6 points 1 of the pawls 6 are pressed against and grip the corners ofthe turnbuckle 4 and turn the latter with the wrench. Thus by back andforth turning of'the Wrench the turnbuckle is alternately released andturned by the wrench in the selected direction. In the event ofsubstantially square cross section of the turnbuckle all four cornersthereof may be engaged'by the equally spaced four pawls 6. In the eventof oblong cross sectionof the turnbuckle 4 usually two corners only areengaged and upon a quarter turn of the wrench backward the other twopawls are brought into engagement with two corners thereof. In all formsthe wrench is simple, it is easy to operate and permits quick insertionand eflicient manipulation for turning turnbuckles or the like.

I claim:

In a wrench of the character described, a head having a central openingand a gap in the periphery thereot forming an entrance for a tumbuckle,a plurality of spaced pawls pivoted in said head and having portionsprojecting circumferentially into said opening for engagin therespective corners of a turnbuckle positioned within said opening,abutment elements to hold said pawls against movement from saidprojecting position when said wrench and turnbuckle are turning as aunit in one circumferential direction, and means to resilientlyurgesai'd'mlo into said projecting position, said head having.

opposite circumferential direction in order to obtain a fresh grip onthe turnbuckle, and said pawls being pivoted in opposite pairs and ondiameters of the central opening which extend generally at about fortyfive degrees with respect to a diameter of the central opening thatbisects said gap.

GARRIE THOMPSON.

llcterences Cited in the file 0! this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 1,322,643 Steen Nov. 25, 1919 1,503,136 Schaafi July29, 1924 1,805210 Buttress Mar. 21, 1933 romncm PATENTS Number CountryDate 591,574 France Apr. 14, 1925

